2 minutes ago Europe - AP
By ALEKSANDAR VASOVIC, Associated Press Writer
KIEV, Ukraine - Ukraine's parliament adopted a package of electoral and constitutional changes Wednesday in a compromise intended to defuse the nation's festering political crisis.
The vote was approved in a 402-21 vote with 19 abstentions. Lawmakers stood and cheered as President Leonid Kuchma signed the measure in the chamber.
"Over the last 100 years, Ukraine has more than once suffered through a crisis, but there was always enough common sense to find a way out and a decision," Kuchma said.
Supporters of opposition presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko had pushed strongly for electoral changes to close loopholes for fraud in the Dec. 26 rerun of the disputed election, but resisted the constitutional changes, which would transfer some presidential powers to parliament.
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